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PAN3539 - Debt Resolution Services

Leicester City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 11:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicester City Council is exploring a debt resolution service to support the recovery of debts owed to the authority. The requirement is classified as collection agency services and falls within the services category. Delivery is intended across Leicester City Council’s area. The council is seeking views from suppliers to help shape the future service specification, understand market interest and identify an appropriate procurement approach. Suppliers are also invited to submit pricing models, including different commercial options, so the council can assess how the service might be structured. This is a single planned requirement rather than a divided multi-lot programme, and the council has indicated that small and medium-sized enterprises may be suitable providers.

This procurement is at the planning stage and the current exercise is pre-market engagement, not a call for competition or a tender. Leicester City Council expects to use supplier responses to develop the specification, determine its procurement approach and establish the value of any future tender. The engagement response deadline is 12:00 noon on 2 September 2026. The council expects a subsequent procurement notice on 8 January 2027. The estimated value is £1,000,000 excluding VAT, or £1,200,000 including VAT. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, with renewal arrangements allowing extension to 31 March 2029. The requirement has one lot and is above the relevant threshold.

The exercise is relevant to suppliers with established debt resolution, debt recovery or collection agency capabilities, particularly organisations able to design and operate services for a local authority. It may suit SMEs as well as larger providers. Potential participants should be ready to explain their operating model, approach to resolving outstanding debts and pricing structure, since the council is specifically seeking alternative pricing models to inform the future specification and commercial approach. This is a preparation opportunity rather than a contract competition: responding will help the council understand available services and supplier interest, but will not lead directly to appointment or provide a commercial advantage in any later procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

PAN3539 - Debt Resolution Services

Notice Description

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION Leicester City Council (LCC) is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise (PME) to inform the future procurement of a Debt Resolution Service by gathering information, ascertaining the level of interest, developing an appropriate specification and determining the procurement approach the Authority may take to appoint a Supplier. This exercise is aligned with the Procurement Act 2023, ensuring transparency, fairness, proportionality and value for money. Leicester City Council invites Suppliers to respond to key questions to shape any future procurement activity in relation to Debt Resolution Service that it may procure. Suppliers are also requested to provide their pricing models for the Authority to consider (various options may be provided). Suppliers shall note that this Pre Market Engagement Exercise (PME) is not a call for competition and responding to this Opportunity does not constitute a formal tender or result in the letting of a Contract. This PME process is being utilised to gauge interest and options. The Authority welcomes the opportunity to engage with Suppliers and appreciates your assistance in providing us with your views. However, Suppliers shall note that the Authority will have to comply with its legal obligations in any ensuing procurement exercise and that neither the intention nor the purpose of this PME is to confer any commercial advantage upon its participants. Suppliers shall note that the estimated total value of the forthcoming procurement tender will be determined based on the outcomes of this PME exercise. Further information about this exercise can be found in the PME documentation. Submissions must be received by 12:00 noon on 2 September 2026 at the very latest via the EastMidsTenders portal: https://www.eastmidstenders.org/index.html. Any queries/questions regarding this opportunity must be received via the ProContract portal only. To assist potential Suppliers, the link, https://supplierhelp.due-north.com/ provides helpful user guides on using the ProContract portal. Furthermore, Suppliers will be required to register on the Central Digital Platform (a Find a Tender service) in any future tendering exercise. To assist prospective Suppliers, Cabinet Office have published video guides with accompanying PDF user manuals which will help Suppliers understand and navigate the platform, including how to register, upload organisational information and search and bid for opportunities. Please click on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/information-and-guidance-for-suppliers

Planning Information

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION Leicester City Council (LCC) is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise (PME) to inform the future procurement of a Debt Resolution Service by gathering information, ascertaining the level of interest, developing an appropriate specification and determining the procurement approach the Authority may take to appoint a Supplier. This exercise is aligned with the Procurement Act 2023, ensuring transparency, fairness, proportionality and value for money. Leicester City Council invites Suppliers to respond to key questions to shape any future procurement activity in relation to Debt Resolution Service that it may procure. Suppliers are also requested to provide their pricing models for the Authority to consider (various options may be provided). Suppliers shall note that this Pre Market Engagement Exercise (PME) is not a call for competition and responding to this Opportunity does not constitute a formal tender or result in the letting of a Contract. This PME process is being utilised to gauge interest and options. The Authority welcomes the opportunity to engage with Suppliers and appreciates your assistance in providing us with your views. However, Suppliers shall note that the Authority will have to comply with its legal obligations in any ensuing procurement exercise and that neither the intention nor the purpose of this PME is to confer any commercial advantage upon its participants. Suppliers shall note that the estimated total value of the forthcoming procurement tender will be determined based on the outcomes of this PME exercise. Further information about this exercise can be found in the PME documentation. Submissions must be received by 12:00 noon on XX XXXXx 2026 at the very latest via the EastMidsTenders portal only. Late submissions and those received by any other means will not be accepted. Any queries/questions regarding this opportunity must be received via the ProContract portal only. To assist potential Suppliers, the link, https://supplierhelp.due-north.com/ provides helpful user guides on using the ProContract portal. Furthermore, Suppliers will be required to register on the Central Digital Platform (a Find a Tender service) in any future tendering exercise. To assist prospective Suppliers, Cabinet Office have published video guides with accompanying PDF user manuals which will help Suppliers understand and navigate the platform, including how to register, upload organisational information and search and bid for opportunities. Please click on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/information-and-guidance-for-suppliers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dae6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073576-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79940000 - Collection agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Jan 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Leicester City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE1 1FZ
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF21 Leicester
Delivery Location
TLF21 Leicester
Local Authority
Leicester
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Leicester South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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